Method and machine for wrapping continuously moving products with a flexible overwrap



I Dec. 14, 1965 D. P. SMITH ETAL 3,

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PRODUCTS WITH AFLEXIBLE OVERWRAP Filed April 4, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l NV E N To 25 Down0 P404. SM/TH Passer fi. ZuEecHE/e W/LL/HM R 4114K, J12 WHADO 5. H04.rmmw/ 4/922) D 600 K M ZLM ATTORNEYS Dec. 14, 1965 D. P. SMITH ETALMETHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PRODUCTS WITH AFLEXIBLE OVERWRAP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1962 ATTORNEYS Dec.14. 1965 Filed April 4, 1962 D. P. SMITH ETAL METHOD AND MACHINE FORWRAPPING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PRODUCTS WITH A FLEXIBLE OVERWRAP Q 8 I 8 IQ E E E 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N v E NTO E5 Dew/up PHI/L SM/fl/ 0 aszr 19.20526952 MAL/HM H Coax, Jfi

1/1 4400 5. A u4rs/ww/ zmeey D. COOK AT-roENEYS Dec. 14, 1965 D. P.SMITH ETA 3,222,844 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CONTINUOUSLY MOVINGPRODUCTS WITH A FLEXIBLE OVERWRAP Filed April 4, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS perv/94a 7604. SMITH 06527 /-7. zugxawsfi 044/404 R 4116K, J1?W54. 00 5. H04. TSMHA/ LHeRY 0 (90 I Dec. 14, 1965 D. P. SMITH ETAL3,222,844 METHQD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PRODUCTSWITH A FLEXIBLE OVERWRAP 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 4, 1962 ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent T 3,222,844 METHQD AND MACHENE FDR WRAIlPlNGCUNTHNUUUSLY MOVING PRUDUCTS WITH A FLEXIBLE OVERWRAP Donald Paul Smith,Robert A. Znercher, and William R. Luck, .l'n, Dallas, Waldo E.Hultsrnan, Irving, and Larry D. Cook, Dallas, Tex., assignors to AppliedDevelopments Incorporated of Texas, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of TexasFiled Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 185,156 34 Elaims. (Cl. 53-32) Thisinvention relates generally to high-speed wrapping machines of the typewherein as the products continuously move they are wrapped and sealedwith a flexible wrapper.

More particularly, this invention relates to a method of wrapping and amachine of the above type in which the wrapper is deposited on top ofthe moving product and extends outwardly beyond the sides of theproduct.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed in a machine of the abovetype for folding or tucking the flaps under the product. For example, inthe U.S. Patent 2,918,772 to Bell et al., issued on December 29, 1959,there is employed a folder bar for tucking the rear flap under themoving product; that machine also utilizes top folders for folding theopposite sides of the The present invention relates to machines of thisgen:

eral character, and one aspect of the invention relates to improvedmeans for tucking the front flap under the product; another aspectrelates to an improved means for tucking the side flaps under theproduct to thereby define a trailing folded flap which can subsequentlybe tucked under the otherwise completed package.

Another more specific aspect of the present invention relates to ahigh-speed wrapping machine of the above general type which can dotransverse banding of the products in an improved manner, and for thispurpose it utilizes rotatable tucking rods for the front and reartucking operations, which rods are positively rotated in such adirection as to pull the free end of the wrapper inwardly under theproduct and at the same time positively feed and apply the film to thepackage. By thereby positively driving the rods in this particulardirection, a positive application of the film to the package is insured,and this is particularly important when utilizing a limp, sticky film,such as, for example only, polyvinylidene chloride and soft copolymers.

Another aspect of the invention provides that such positively rotatablerods work in close cooperation with the suction belt means that act toconvey the product and pull the wrapper down tightly against the beltfor easy and definite entry under the rods without obstruction orinterference therewith.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a continuous andhigh-speed wrapping machine in which after the leading flap of thewrapper has been tucked under the continuously moving product, the sideflaps are then forced laterally inwardly under the opposite sides of theproduct by a path of moving air. This moving air may be the result ofsuction which draws the side flaps along a particular path of movementto thereby insure 3,222,844 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 complete and tightwrapping of the product. Alternatively, this moving air may be theresult of jets of air pressure which are specifically directed to movethe side flaps in the desired laterally inward direction. In eitherevent, the side folds so formed extend all the way to the rear of thewrapper and thereby precisely define a tail portion which cansubsequently be neatly tucked under the product.

A more specific aspect of the invention relates to a side tuckingapparatus of the type described immediately above, in which the package,While being wrapped around its sides, rests on a former plate generallyof a narrower width as the package. The side flaps so directed by themoving paths of air are caused to encircle or embrace and therebyenclose the former plate together with the package. In this manner,longitudinal banding of the products is accomplished.

The present invention also provides a wrapping machine of the overwraptype in which the leading flap of the film early in the wrappingsequence is tucked under the forwardly moving product so that it ispositively controlled and need not be pushed ahead of the product as thelatter moves along. The side flaps are then folded inwardly for theirentire remaining length and under the package to thereby preciselydefine a trailing edge of the proper width; this is accomplished byutilizing a forming plate over which the side flaps are drawn. The laststage in the folding sequence is then to tuck the defined trailing edgeunder the continuously moving and partially formed package, and thislast tuck is accomplished by means of a positively rotated rear tuckingrod which also moves bodily and at a greater linear speed than thecontinuously moving package.

Both the front tuck and rear tuck spinning rods are positively rotatedin such a direction so that they act to pull the free end of theirrespective flap inwardly under the package and at the same time deliverthe flap from the tucker rod in a positive manner and positively applyit to the moving product. With this arrangement, even though the film issticky and otherwise hard to handle, it is positively applied to theproduct.

The present invention also relates to an improved method of applying anoverwrap of flexible material to a continuously moving product. Moreparticularly, the wrapper is placed on top of the moving product withedges of the wrapper protruding beyond the front, rear, and oppositesides of the product. The wrapper is then caused to be moved downwardlyover the product. The front flap is then tucked under the moving productand thereby the otherwise uncontrollable flexible and limp leading edgeis at once brought under control and doubled over to present a newleading edge of greater stiffness. The opposite side flaps are thenfolded under the product, preferably by suction, to thereby form atrailing flap having folded sides. This trailing flap is of apredetermined width not greater than the width of the bottom of the thenpartially formed package. The last step in the flap tucking sequence isto fold the trailing flap under the product by moving it forwardly at agreater rate of travel than that at which the product moves. In thismanner, the leading edge is not pushed ahead of the product for anyextent, but instead is folded under the product as the first foldingoperation. The sides are then folded to define a tail of proper width,which tail is then neatly tucked under the product so as not to protrudefrom the sides of the package.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view, generally schematic innature, with parts broken away or removed for clarity in the drawings,and showing a machine made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 buton an enlarged scale, certain parts being in section, removed, orbroken. away for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in FIGURE 2,certain parts being shown in section, broken away, or removed forclarity;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3, but on anenlarged scale, certain parts being shown insection and broken away;

FIGURE 5' is a fragmentary, rear side elevational view, taken along line55 in FIGURE 2, but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 66 in FIGURE 2,but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken along line 7-7 inFIGURE 2 but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing a modified form'- ofthat portion of the machine for creating air currents in the side tucksection;

FIGURES9 to 14 inclusive are perspective views showing the progressivesteps of wrapping the product as the latter moves through the machine;

FIGURE 15 is a bottom, perspective view of a cOrnpleted package aswrapped on the present machine; and

FIGURE 16 is a schematic side elevational view of the drive for some ofthe various parts of the machine.

Injeed section The product infeed section IE is shown generally at theleft end of FIGURE 1, and is-of a generally conventional nature, havingan endless infeed conveyor IC with projections 1 which push the productfrom left to right as viewed in FIGURE 2, which direction is. theforward direction, in respect to product travel. The flexible wrappingmaterial may be of various types and is supplied from the supply roll Sfrom which the web passes to and through the feed rolls F and F1, andbetween rotary knife K and cooperating shear bar K1.

As the knife forms the individual wrappers W, they are successivelycarried by the four downwardly inclined and perforated endless belts 2.A vacuum chamber 3 is located between the flights of the belts in theconventional manner and creates a suction through the perforated beltsso the wrappers are positively and accurately conveyed downwardly andforwardly by these belts and placed on top of the product P which movesunderneath and between them from the conveyor IC.

One wrapper is precisely placed on top of each of the products, with theedges of the wrapper extending outwardly beyond all sides of theproduct. Thus, front, rear, and opposite side flaps of the wrapperextend outwardly from the product, which flaps are subsequently drawndownwardly along the sides of the product by other suction in animproved manner, all as will presently be described.

Film laying and front tuck section As the wrapper is placed on theproduct P, it leaves the infeed section and is smoothly transferred tothe front tuck section PT.

The front tuck section includes a product conveyor means for moving theproduct and wrapper together along a defined path of movement. Thisconveyor means is shown as taking the form of an endless suction beltmeans SB which act to continue to move the product P along its path oftravel and also act to pull the extending flaps of the wrapper tightlydown over the product Where they lay flat against the suction beltmeans.

The suction belt means SB has been shown as a series of endless,flexible, and perforated belts 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 arranged inparallelism, and all traveling at the same speed. However, any number ofthese belts may be utilized as desired. For example, a single but muchwider belt may also be satisfactory. A suction chamber SEC is locatedbetween the flights of the belts and acts to create a suction downwardlythrough the perforated belt means.

Means are provided for tucking the front flap FF (FIGURES l, 9, and 10)under the product as the latter continuously moves along in the forwarddirection, and this means consists of a transversely extending andpositively rotated bar 10 (FIGURES l-3 and 10). This bar is locatedabove and closely adjacent to the upper surface of the suction beltmeans and intermediate the length thereof.

As the product and its wrapper approach the bar 10, and the front flapFF passes beneath the bar (FIGURE 10), the flap is held tightly down andfiat on the suction belt means by suction and extends forwardly of theproduct. As a result, the front fiap passes beneath the spinning rodwithout hesitation or interference therewith.

In wrapping certain types of products of more or less irregular shape,such as head lettuce, it may not be essential to utilize suction to pullthe front flap under the bar 10. Instead, sufficient clearance beneaththe 'bar may be provided or the bar can be swingably mounted to providethe necessary clearance, as will be referred to later.

As the product itself then reaches the rod, it rides up over the bar andpasses thereover (FIGURES 1 and 11), :thus causing the flap to be laidback under the product.

Pusher means are provided in the form of transverse paddles 12 (FIGURES1-3) attached to a pair of continuously moving and endless chains 13 and14 trained around pairs of rotating sprockets 15, 16, and 16a. Thesepushers act in timed relationship with the products as they move ontothe suction belt means and act to insure that the product does nothesitate as it contacts and passes over the tucker rod.

It will be noted that the rod 10 is positively driven in the directionindicated by the curvilinear arrow so that the upper surface of the rodis moving in the same direction as the product. This particulardirection of rotation and positive rotational drive of the rod isimportant to a dependable and positive tucking operation, particularlywhen sticky and limp wrappers are used. The action is such that the freeend of the flap is pulled in and around the rod and it is thenpositively fed from the rod and laid on or applied to the underside ofthe product. This has been found to be particularly advantageous,especially from a reliability standpoint, as compared to simplypermitting rolling contact drive of the rod on the bottom of theproduct, which often resulted in film stretching, tearing, wrinkling orin wrapping of the film around the rod itself.

The peripheral speed of the rod as compared to the linear speed of theproduct may vary somewhat but they should be generally equal.

With the above arrangement, the front flap is tucked under the packageas the first step in the complete flap tucking sequence, and this occursearly in the combined movement of the wrapper and its product. This isimportant when using sticky and very flexible or limp film, particularlywhen used with suction belt means for conveying and pulling the wrapperdown over the product. The forwardly extending and usuallydifiicultto-control leading edge of the front fiap is promptly tuckedunder the package to form a folding leading edge which extends laterallyoutwardly from the product at both sides and as an extension of thefront side thereof.

The rod 10 is suitably journalled at one end in arm 17 (FIG. 1) mountedat its lower end on the machine frame. The other end of the rod isrotatably journalled in a similar arm 18 and has a pulley 19 fixedthereto. An endless flexible drive member 19a, which is trained overpulley 19 and over another pulley 19b (FlGURE 3) on the machine,transmits power to the rod from a power source, such as an electricmotor EM (FIGURE 16), as will more fully appear later.

When a wrapping material is being used that is heavier and comparativelyeasy to handle and not quite so sticky, or when more or less irregularlyshaped articles are to be wrapped, such as head lettuce, it may not beessential to use suction to pull the front flap under the bar 10. Inthat case, the bar may be oscillated by arms 17 and 18 in timedrelationship with the oncoming package, so as to provide sufficientclearance thereunder for the leading edge of the wrapper.

After the front flap has been tucked under the continuously movingproduct as above described, it continues its travel and is transferredby the pusher paddles 12 to the sides of tucking section ST (FIGURES1-3, 6-8, and 12).

Sides tucking section The side flaps SF and SP1 (FIGURES l and 11) aretucked under the product as it passes over the section ST, as shown inFIGURE 12, and these side tucks are accomplished by laterally inwardlymoving currents of air which act on the side flaps and cause them to beinstantaneously tucked under the product as the latter moves rapidlyover section ST.

A preferred form for performing this side tucking operation is shownwhich utilizes suction for drawing the side flaps laterally inwardly andtightly under the product. Vacuum slots are defined at each side of theside tucking section for directing the suction effect in a precise path,and the construction and operation of the side tucking section is asfollows:

A former plate FP forms a surface over which the product slides with itsleading edge tucked thereunder. This plate is of a width generallynarrower than the width of the bottom of the product, at any rate theplate is not of a greater width than the bottom of the product, althoughit may be narrower. Preferably, however, the plate is of a widthgenerally the same as the width of the bottom of the product, so as toform a trailing flap (as will appear) that can be tucked neatly underthe product without protruding therefrom.

The former plate FF is also preferably made interchangeable with othersof different width to accommodate runs of products having differentbottom widths. It should be mentioned that it is necessary to changeonly this plate to adapt the present invention to a large variety ofproducts to be wrapped.

Side plates lit and 21 extend from adjacent the sides of the formerplate and then bend downwardly beneath the former plate and extend alongits underside, thus forming laterally inwardly directed air passages 25and 26 which communicate with the interior of the suction chamber 27. Acentral, vertically disposed plate 23 supports the former plate anddirects the passages downwardly into the chamber. A vacuum is drawn offthe chamber through its outlet 29 and conduit 30 from a source ofsuction, such as the blower 31 of conventional nature (FIGURE 2).

As the product passes over the former plate, the side suction pulls theside flap laterally inwardly under the product and former plate. As theproduct leaves the former plate, the suction continues to pull thatportion of the side flaps to the rear of the product, inwardly aroundthe former plate. In other words, the side flaps are folded inwardlyalong their entire longitudinal length. This forms a trailing flap whichis folded beneath itself along each of its longitudinal edges.

The former plate is tapered inwardly along its front sides at 32 and 33to form an inwardly converging taper at its front end which permits thetrailing flap to be more easily drawn off of the former.

An alternative form of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 8, whereinelongated nozzles 40 having a series of apertures 41 direct jets ofcompressed air against the side flaps and laterally inwardly beneath theformer plate and from each side thereof. This air blast action alsofolds the side flaps inwardly and tightly around the sides of theproduct and former plate. Thereby, other means for causing specificallydirected currents of air may be employed with the present invention,other than the suction means, but the latter has been found to be easierto control and with better definition of flap movement.

Rear tuck section The pusher paddles 12, in discharging the partiallyformed package from the side tuck section ST, also push the package ontoa wide, endless belt conveyor St) that continues to move the packagesalong their path of travel and through the rear tucking operation.

Retarder means are provided for the packages as they are moved byconveyor 50 and act to hold or retard the packages from being movedahead too rapidly by the action of the bodily moving rear tucker bar (tobe described). This retarder means takes the form of a pair of spacedapart retarders 51 and 52 carried by and between a pair of endlessroller chains 53 and 54. These chains are suitably trained over thepairs of sprockets 55 and 56 that in turn are journalled for rotation inthe machine frame in any well-known manner. It is believed sumcient tosay that chains 53 and 54 are arranged in parallelism, and the pair ofsprockets 56 fixed on shaft 78 is driven to furnish positive andcontinuous rotation of the chains and the retarders carried thereby. Asthe retarders move in their lower portion of their travel, they act toretard, control, and steady the package that abuts against their rearside as the tucker rod 6!) moves forwardly and beneath the package at amuch faster rate. The linear speed of the retarders is approximately thesame as the speed of the conveyor and the timing and phase of theretarders relative to pushers 12 are such that a retarder is providedfor each package discharged by a pusher.

The transversely positioned rear tucker rod 60 is mounted for bodilymovement under the package and in the same direction of package movementbut at about three times the speed of the package. This bodily movementis accomplished by rotatably mounting the rod across and on threeendless roller chains 61, 62, and 63 (FIGURES 1, 2, and 4) arranged inparallelism and for orbital movement in vertical planes. The chains aretrained over the three sets of three sprockets 6d, 65, and 65a, the set64 of which is rotatably driven through the drive sheave 78a fixed onshaft '78, as will appear, to positively and continuously rotate the rod66) through its orbital path of travel.

The rod 60 is also mounted for rotation about its own axis, that is tosay, the rod positively rotates or spins as it also moves bodily asabove described. To provide for this spinning, the rod is journalled inthe elongated housing 66 fixed between chains 62 and 63 and in thehousing 67 fixed to chain 61.

The outer end of the elongated housing 66 has an enlarged portion 70(FIGURES 2 and 4). A sheave "71 is fixed to rod 66 and is rotatablymounted on portion 763 and adjacent to idler sheaves 72 and 73 alsorotatably mounted on portion '70. An endless and flexible drive cord 74is trained around these sheaves and is also trained around sheaves 7'7,'76, and 75 mount-ed, respectively, on the end of shafts 78, 79, and 8dwhich carry some of the sprockets of sets 64, 65, 65a, respectively.

Thus, shaft '78 is the drive shaft for the three large sprockets 64 andthe chains 61, 62, and 63 trained thereover, and also drives thesprockets 56 fixed thereto and consequently the retarders.

Another drive shaft 82 is mounted within the tubular shaft '73, and thecord sheave 75 is fixed thereto and thus driven thereby to drive thecord. Thus, as the rod is bodily moved by its three endless chains, itis also rotatably driven in the direction indicated by the curvilineararrows.

The direction of rotation of the rod is shown by the curvilinear arrowin FIGURE 1 and is such that the top side of the rod moves in adirection opposite to that in which the package moves. As the packagemoves in the same direction as bodily movement of the red, but at a muchslower rate than the rod, the direction of rod rotation is the samerelative to the package as would be provided by simple rolling contacttherebetween if the rod were not positively rotatably driven. However,it has. been found to be important to positively spin the rod,. and infact necessary with the type of films previously referred to. Thepositive rotation of the rod causes the free end of the rear flap RF tobe pulled in toward the rod and around it for positive application tothe underside of the package. In other words, the spinning rodpositively reels the flap in and then pays it out, both at a definiterate. This action eliminates winding on the rod and stretching orcrinkling of the wrapper.

The rod is carried bodily by the chains at a speed approximately threetimes that of the package, and furthermore the rod is driven to make itrotate about its own axis at a peripheral speed roughly equal to that ofthe bottom side of the package on which the wrapper is laid. With thisarrangement, the rod does not disturb the previous folds.

Drive means The general drive arrangement is shown in FIGURE 16, and theelectric motor EM drives the main drive shaft DS in the conventionalmanner. A series of conventional right-angle gear reducers R1, R2, R3,and R4 transmit power from the main shaft to the transverse shafts T81,T82, T83, and T84. An endless belt B1 acting through suitable sheaves 85and 86 fixed to shafts T51 and with sprocket 15, respectively, transmitspower from the main drive shaft DS to the pusher unit. Belt B2 actingthrough sheaves 87 and 88 drives the conveyor means from shaft TS2. BeltB4 furnishes drive from sheaves 89 on shaft TS4 to the conveyor 50 inthe conventional manner. Similarly, sprocket 78a and 82a of the reartuck section are driven from the transverse shaft T53 by belts 90, and91, 92, respectively.

The main drive shaft DS also furnished power to rotate the frontspinning tuck rod through belt 19c trained around pulleys 93, 94, 95,and 19b.

Rsum

The high-speed and continuous wrapping machine provided by the presentinvention utilizes positively rotated tucker bars for tucking both thefront and rear flaps. These bars are rotated in a particular directionwhich acts to draw the free end of the flap inwardly over the bar andapply it in a positive manner to the underside of the package. This isimportant when used in certain types of flexible wrappings, particularlythose of a sticky and especially limp nature.

The use of suction for drawing the flaps downwardly over the product andholding the front flap tightly against the suction belt means isimportant in many wrapping conditions, particularly with sticky film,and has a cooperative elfect with the front tucker bar, in that thelatter can clear the front leading edge of the flap without obstructionor inadvertent winding of the flap on the spinning bar. However, the useof the suction for drawing the flaps under the front tucker is notrequired if the rotating rod is lifted over the leading edge of the filmand dropped in proper position to go under the package.

The present invention also provides novel means for performing the sidetucking functions, and which means acts to tightly draw the materialover the product even though the latter may be of an irregular shape.These side tucking means also work in cooperation with the former plateto thereby precisely define the shape and width of the trailing flapwhich can then subsequently be neatly tucked under the package.

The sequence of folds is such that the front flap is turned rearwardlyearly in the wrapping process and thereby this otherwise uncontrollableedge is brought into control at an early stage in the folding process.The side flaps are then folded for their entire length including thoseportions which extend rearwardly with the rear flap. This side foldingoperation is performed in such a manner that the resulting trailing flapcan be neatly tucked under the package without protruding from the sidesthereof.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention:

1. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, suction beltmeans for moving the product along a path of travel, means fordepositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, said suction belt means acting on said flaps to pullthem downwardly around the product, tucker means for tucking said frontflap rearwardly under the product as the latter moves along, a formerplate over which said product is moved with said front flap tuckedthereunder, and means for causing a laterally inwardly directed currentof air at each of the opposite sides of said product and under saidformer plate to thereby cause said side flaps to be folded inwardlyunder said product as the latter moves along.

2. A continuous wrapping machine for a moving product comprising, meansfor depositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, suction belt means for moving the product along apath of travel and acting on said flaps to pull them downwardly aroundthe product, means for tucking said front flap rearwardly under theproduct as the latter moves along, a former plate over which saidproduct is moved with said front fiap tucked thereunder, and means forcausing a laterally inwardly directed current of air at each of theopposite sides of said product and under said former plate to therebycause said side flaps to be folded inwardly under said product as thelatter moves along and around and under said plate to form a trailingfolded flap of a width not greater than the width of the bottom of saidproduct.

3. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, suction beltmeans for moving the product along a path of travel, means fordepositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, said suction belt means acting on said flaps to pullthem downwardly around the product, tucker means for tucking said frontflap rearwardly under the product as the latter moves along, a formerplate over which said product is moved with said front flap tuckedthereunder, and suction means beneath said plate for drawing said sideflaps inwardly around said plate and under said product as the lattermoves. along.

4. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, suction beltmeans for moving the product along a path of travel, means fordepositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, said suction belt means acting on said flaps to pullthem downwardly around the product, a transversely positioned andpositively rotated tucker rod under which the front flap passes and overwhich the product passes for tucking said front flap rearwardly underthe product as the latter moves along, said rod being rotated in adirection whereby its upper surface moves in the same direction as theproduct, a former plate over which said product is moved with said frontflap tucked thereunder, and means for causing a laterally inwardlydirected current of air at each of the opposite sides of said productand under said former plate to thereby cause said side 9 flaps to befolded inwardly under said product as the latter moves along.

5. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, suction beltmeans for moving the product along a path of travel, means fordepositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, said suction belt means acting on said flaps to pullthem downwardly around the product, a transversely positioned andpositively rotated tucker rod under which the front flap passes and overwhich the product passes for tucking said front flap rearwardly underthe product as the latter moves along, said rod being rotated in adirection whereby its upper surface moves in the same direction as theproduct, a former plate over which said product is moved with said frontflap tucked thereunder, and suction means beneath said plate for drawingsaid side flaps inwardly around said plate and under said product as thelatter moves along.

6. A continuous wrapping machine for wrapping a moving productcomprising, means for depositing a wrapper on the top side of saidmoving product with a front, rear, and two opposite side flaps of thewrapper protruding around the product, suction belt means for moving theproduct along a path of travel and acting on said flaps to pull themdownwardly around the product, a transversely positioned and positivelyrotated tucker rod under which the front flap passes and over which theproduct passes for tucking said front flap rearwardly under the productas the latter moves along, said rod being rotated in a direction wherebyits upper surface moves in the same direction as the product, a formerplate over which said product is moved with said front flap tuckedthereunder, suction means beneath said plate for drawing said side flapsinwardly under said product as the latter moves along, a transverselypositioned and positively rotated rear tucker rod mounted for bodilymovement over said rear flap and beneath said product and in the samedirection as but at a faster linear speed than said product, to therebytuck said rear flap under said moving product, and means for positivelyrotating said rear tucker rod in a direction whereby its upper surfacemoves in a direction opposite to the bodily movement of said rear tuckerrod.

7. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, suction beltmeans for moving the product along a path of travel, means fordepositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, said suction belt means acting on said flaps to pullthem downwardly around the product, a transversely positioned andpositively rotated tucker rod under which the front flap passes and overwhich the product passes for tucking said front flap rearwardly underthe product as the latter moves along, means for positively rotatingsaid rod in a direction whereby its upper surface moves in the samedirection as the product, means for folding said side fiaps under saidproduct, to thereby form a folded rear flap, a transversely positionedand positively rotated rear tucker rod mounted for bodily movement oversaid rear flap and beneath said product and in the same direction as butat a faster linear speed than said product, to thereby tuck said rearflap under said moving product, and means for positively rotating saidrear tucker rod in a direction whereby its upper surface moves in adirection opposite to the bodily movement of said rear tucker rod.

8. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, suction beltmeans for moving the product along a path of travel, means fordepositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, said suction belt means acting on said flaps to pullthem downwardly around the product, a transversely positioned andpositively rotated tucker rod under Cit which the front flap passes andover which the product passes for tucking said front flap rearwardlyunder the product as the latter moves along, means for positivelyrotating said rod in a direction whereby its upper surface moves in thesame direction as the product, and means for folding said side flapsunder said product, to thereby form a folded rear flap.

9. In a high speed, continuous wrapping machine of the type in which awrapper is deposited on top of a continuously moving product with afront, rear, and opposite side flaps extending beyond said product, thecombination of suction belt means for conveying said product and forpulling said flaps tightly downwardly over the product, means fortucking said front flap under the product, a former plate over which theproduct is moved, said plate having an elongated air passage formedtherein and along each side of said product, and means for causing alaterally inwardly directed current of air to pass through said airpassages at each of opposite sides of said product for folding said sideflaps inwardly under said moving product.

It In a high speed, continuous wrapping machine of the type in which awrapper is deposited on top of a continuously moving product with afront, rear, and opposite side flaps extending beyond said product, thecombination of suction belt means for conveying said product and forpulling said flaps tightly downwardly over the product, means fortucking said front flap under the product, a former plate over which theproduct is moved, said plate having an elongated air passage formedtherein and along each side of said product, and laterally inwardlydirected suction means at each of opposite sides of said product andacting through said air passages for drawing said side flaps inwardlyunder said product.

11. In a high speed, continuous wrapping machine of the type in which awrapper is deposited on top of a continuously moving product with afront, rear, and opposite side flaps extending beyond said product, thecombination of suction belt means for conveying said product and forpulling said flaps tightly downwardly over the product, means fortucking said front flap under the product, and a laterally inwardly anddownwardly directed suction passage at each of opposite sides of saidproduct, and means for creating suction pressure in said passageswhereby said side flaps are pulled inwardly under said product as thelatter moves along.

12. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexiblewrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the flaps of the wrapper extending beyond the front, rear, andopposite sides of the product, drawing said flaps downwardly over theproduct by suction, tucking the front flap under the product, foldingthe opposite side flaps under the product to thereby form alongitudinally folded trailing flap of a width not greater than thebottom of the product, and then tucking said trailing flap underneathsaid moving product by advancing said trailing flap at a faster ratethan that with which said product moves.

13. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexiblewrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the flaps of the wrapper extending beyond the front, rear, andopposite sides of the product, drawing said flaps downwardly over theproduct by suction, tucking the front flap under the product, applying alaterally inwardly directed current of air to said opposite side flapsto thereby fold said side flaps under the product and form alongitudinally folded trailing flap of a width not greater than thebottom of the product, and then tucking said trailing flap underneathsaid moving product by advancing said trailing flap at a faster ratethan that with which said product moves.

14. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexiblewrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the flaps of the wrapper extending beyond the front, rear, andopposite sides of the product, applying suction from beneath and to saidflaps to draw said flaps downwardly over the product, tucking the frontflap under the product, applying suction from beneath and generallybetween the opposite side fiaps to thereby draw said side flapslaterally inwardly under the product to thereby form a longitudinallyfolded trailing fiap of a width not greater than the bottom of theproduct, and then tucking said trailing flap underneath said movingproduct by advancing said trailing flap at a faster rate than that withwhich said product moves.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of limitingthe inward movement of said side flaps due to the influence of saidsuction to thereby limit the width of said trailing fiap to apredetermined size.

16. A machine for Wrapping a moving product comprising, conveyor meansfor moving the product along a path of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with a front, rear, andtwo opposite side flaps of the wrapper protruding around the product,tucker means for tucking said front flap rearwardly under the product asthe latter moves along, a former plate over which said product is movedwith said front flap tucked thereunder, and means for causing alaterally inwardly directed current of air at each of the opposite sidesof said product and under said former plate to thereby cause said sideflaps to be folded inwardly under said product as the latter movesalong.

17. A continuous wrapping machine for a moving product comprising, meansfor depositing a wrapper on the top side of said moving product with afront, rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protrudingaround the product, conveyor means for moving the product along a pathof travel, means for tucking said front flap rearwardly under theproduct as the latter moves along, a former plate over which saidproduct is moved with said front flap tucked thereunder, and means forcausing a laterally inwardly directed current of air at each of theopposite sides of said product and under said former plate to therebycause said side flaps to be folded inwardly under said product as thelatter moves along and around and under said plate to form a trailingfolded flap of a width not greater than the width of the bottom of saidproduct.

18. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, conveyor meansfor moving the product along a path of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with a front, rear, andtwo opposite side flaps of the wrapper protruding around the product,tucker means for tucking said front flap rearwardly under the product asthe latter moves along, a former plate over which said product is movedwith said front flap tucked thereunder, and suction means beneath saidplate for drawing said side flaps inwardly around said plate and undersaid product as the latter moves along.

19. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, conveyor meansfor moving the product along a path of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with a front, rear, andtwo opposite side flaps of the wrapper protruding around the product, atransversely positioned and positively rotated tucker rod under whichthe front flap passes and over which the product passes for tucking saidfront flap rearwardly under the product as the latter moves along, saidrod being rotated in a direction whereby its upper surface moves in thesame direction as the product, a former plate over which said product ismoved with said front flap tucked thereunder, and suction means beneathsaid plate for drawing said side flaps inwardly around said plate andunder said product as the latter moves along.

20. A continuous wrapping machine for wrapping a moving productcomprising, means for depositing a wrapper on the top side of saidmoving product with a front,

rear, and two opposite side flaps of the wrapper protruding around theproduct, a product conveyor for moving the product along a path oftravel including means for acting on said flaps to move them downwardlyaround the product, a transversely positioned and positively rotatedtucker rod under which the front flap passes and over which the productpasses for tucking said front flap rearwardly under the product as thelatter moves along, a former plate over which said product is moved withsaid front flap tucked thereunder, suction means beneath said plate fordrawing said side flaps inwardly under said product as the latter movesalong, and a transversely positioned and positively rotated rear tuckerrod mounted for bodily movement over said rear flap and beneath saidproduct and in the same direction as but at a faster linear speed thansaid product, to thereby tuck said rear flap under said moving product.

21. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, a conveyor formoving the product along a path of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with a front, rear, andtwo opposite side flaps of the wrapper protruding around the product, atransversely positioned and positively rotated tucker rod under whichthe front fiap passes and over which the product passes for tucking saidfront fiap rearwardly under the product as the latter moves along, meansfor holding said side flaps under said product, to thereby form a foldedrear flap, and a transversely positioned and positively rotated reartucker rod mounted for bodily movement over said rear flap and beneathsaid product and in the same direction as but at a faster linear speedthan said product, to thereby tuck said rear flap under said movingproduct.

22. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising a conveyor formoving the product along a path of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with a front, rear, andtwo opposite side fiaps of the wrapper protruding around the product, atransversely positioned and positively rotated tucker rod under whichthe front flap passes and over which the product passes for tucking saidfront flap rearwardly under the product as the latter moves along, meansfor positively rotating said rod in a direction whereby its uppersurface moves in the same direction as the product, and means forfolding said side flaps under said product, to thereby form a foldedrear flap.

23. In a high speed, continuous wrapping machine of the type in which awrapper is deposited on top of a continuously moving product with afront, rear, and opposite side flaps extending beyond said product, thecombination of conveying means for conveying said product and for movingsaid fiaps tightly downwardly over the product, means for tucking saidfront flap under the product, a former plate over which the product ismoved, said plate having an elongated air passage formed therein andalong each side of said product, and means for causing a laterallyinwardly directed current of air to pass through said air passages ateach of opposite sides of said product for folding said side flapsinwardly under said moving product.

24. In a high speed, continuous wrapping machine of the type in which awrapper is deposited on top of a continuously moving product with afront, rear, and opposite side flaps extending beyond said product, thecombination of conveying means for conveying said product and for movingsaid flaps downwardly over the product, means for tucking said frontflap under the product, a former plate over which the product is moved,said plate having an elongated air passage formed therein and along eachside of said product, and laterally inwardly directed suction means ateach of opposite sides of said product and acting through said airpassages for drawing said side flaps inwardly under said product.

25. In a high speed, continuous wrapping machine of the type in which awrapper is deposited on top of a continuously moving product with afront, rear, and opposite side flaps extending beyond said product, thecombination of conveyor means for conveying said product, means fortucking said front flap under the product, and a laterally inwardly anddownwardly directed suction passage at each of opposite sides of saidproduct, and means for creating suction pressure in said passageswhereby said side flaps are pulled inwardly under said product as thelatter moves along.

26. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexibleWrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the flaps of the wrapper extending beyond the front, rear, andopposite sides of the product, causing said flaps to move downwardlyover the product, tucking the front flap under the product, folding theopposite side flaps under the product to thereby form a longitudinallyfolded trailing flap of a width not greater than the bottom of theproduct, and then tucking said trailing flap underneath said movingproduct by advancing said trailing flap at a faster rate than that withwhich said product moves.

27. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexiblewrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the flaps of the wrapper extending beyond the front, rear, andopposite sides of the product, tucking the front flap under the product,applying a laterally inwardly directed current of air to said oppositeside flaps to thereby fold said side flaps under the product and form alongitudinally folded trailing flap of a width not greater than thebottom of the product, and then tucking said trailing flap underneathsaid moving product by advancing said trailing flap at a faster ratethan that with which said product moves.

28. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexiblewrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the fiaps of the Wrapper extending beyond the front, rear, andopposite sides of the product, tucking the front flap under the product,applying suction from beneath and generally between the opposite sideflaps to thereby draw said side flaps laterally inwardly under theproduct to thereby form a longitudinally folded trailing flap of a widthnot greater than the bottom of the product, and then tucking saidtrailing flap underneath said moving product by advancing said trailingflap at a faster rate than that with which said product moves.

29. A continuous wrapping machine for a moving product comprising, meansfor depositing a Wrapper on the top side of said moving product with twoopposite side flaps of the wrapper protruding beyond the product,conveyor means for moving the product along a path of travel, a formerplate over which said product is moved, and means for causing alaterally inwardly directed current of air at each of the opposite sidesof said product and under said former plate to thereby cause said sideflaps to be folded inwardly under said product as the latter moves alongand around and under said plate.

30. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, conveyor meansfor moving the product along a path of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with two opposite sideflaps of the wrapper protruding beyond the product, a former plate overwhich said product is moved, and suction means beneath said plate fordrawing said side flaps inwardly around said plate and under saidproduct as the latter moves along.

31. A machine for wrapping a moving product comprising, a conveyor formoving the product along a path 1d of travel, means for depositing awrapper on the top side of said moving product with a front and a rearflap of the wrapper protruding beyond the product, a transverselypositioned and positively rotated tucker rod under which the front flappasses and over which the product passes for tucking said front flaprearwardly under the product as the latter moves along, and atransversely positioned and positively rotated rear tucker rod mountedfor bodily movement over said rear flap and beneath said product and inthe same direction as but at a faster linear speed than said product, tothereby tuck said rear flap under said moving product.

32. A continuous wrapping machine for wrapping a moving productcomprising, means for depositing a wrapper on the top side of saidmoving product with front and rear flaps of the wrapper protrudingbeyond the product, a product conveyor for moving the product along apath of travel including means for acting on said flaps to move themdownwardly around the product, a transversely positioned and positivelyrotated tucker rod under which the front flap passes and over which theproduct passes for tucking said front flap rearwardly under the productas the latter moves along, and a transversely positioned and positivelyrotated rear tucker rod mounted for bodily movement over said rear flapand beneath said product and in the same direction as but at a fasterlinear speed than said product, to thereby tuck said rear flap undersaid moving product.

33. The method of wrapping a continuously moving product with a flexiblewrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over said moving productwith the flaps of the wrapper extending beyond opposite sides of theproduct, applying a laterally inwardly directed current of air to saidopposite side flaps and downwardly beneath said product and toward thecenters thereof, to thereby fold said side flaps tightly and inwardlyunder the product, and passing the product and inwardly folded sideflaps which are located under the package over a flat surface to form alongitudinally folded package as said product moves along.

34. The method of longitudinal banding a continuously moving productwith a flexible wrapper which comprises, placing said wrapper over saidmoving product with the flaps of the Wrapper extending beyond oppositesides of the product, applying suction from beneath and generallybetween the opposite side flaps to thereby draw said side flapslaterally inwardly tightly and toward one another and under the product,and passing said package and inwardly folded side flaps over a flatsurface to thereby form a longitudinally folded package as said productmoves along.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,299 1/1906Henke 5332 1,600,320 9/1926 Danquigney 53--385 X 1,908,823 5/ 1933Daniel]. 1,912,806 6/1933 Van Buren 53-232 2,918,772 12/1959 Bell 53389X 2,926,473 3/1960 Byland 53--230 3,071,905 1/1963 Morse 53184 X3,099,118 7/1963 Stelling 5332 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner.

26. THE METHOD OF WRAPPING A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PRODUCT WITH A FLEXIBLEWRAPPER WHICH COMPRISES, PLACING SAID WRAPPER OVER SAID MOVING PRODUCTWITH THE FLAGS OF THE WRAPPER EXTENDING BEYOND THE FRONT, REAR ANDOPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PRODUCT, CAUSING SAID FLAPS TO MOVE DOWNWARDLYOVER THE PRODUCT, TUCKING THE FRONT FLAP UNDER THE PRODUCT, FOLDING THEOPPOSITE SIDE FLAPS UNDER THE PRODUCT